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“Sounds good. I’ll be at your place at five.”

“Perfect. We’ll see you there.”

I continue to walk backward a few steps until she gets in her car, and the second I turn the corner, I have my phone in my hand, opening a text to Henley.

ME: I need your help.

HENLEY: You’re alive.

ME: I’m serious.

HENLEY: Atlas told me what happened between the two of you. And so did Lily. I thought we were finally in a good place yet you still couldn’t be honest with me.

ME: I’m not apologizing for being protective.

HENLEY: Good. Because it kind of made me love you a little bit more. Lily understands by the way. You managed to find the one person in the world who speaks Beckett.

ME: That’s why I need your help. Can we please talk about this another time?

My phone rings the instant I press send, and I’m not surprised to find Henley’s name blowing up my screen.

“Hey, Hen.” I purposely answer with no emotion and she sighs.

“Please tell me you’ve come to your senses and that you're coming to get her?”

“I’m already here.”

“Bullshit. You are?”

“I am. Lily just left to pick up Ava.”

“I’m proud of you, big bro. What can I do?”

I run through my idea with Henley, and she uncharacteristically squeals before reminding me that I better not fuck this up. Her way of telling me just how much she cares about Lily’s happiness.

And while I’d never admit it to her face—she’s obnoxious enough already—the knowledge that she’s here for Lily makes it easier to believe she’ll be okay, even when I’m not around.

They’re both incredibly strong women. I probably should have put more faith in them from the beginning. They’ve got this. We all do.

Now it’s time to show Lily the romance she’s been missing. It’s time to help her believe in happily ever after again.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

LILY

Ava’s dancing around the living room while I hover near the front door waiting for five p.m. and Beckett to arrive. A mountain of tulle brushes my hand, and I glance down to see Ava waving her skirt as she moves. She’s wearing a new princess dress, this one a lot more extravagant than the others she owns thanks to Travis spoiling her. And I fear she’ll never go back.

Still I smile.

For the first time since she was born, it seems he’s paying attention to what she wants and needs, actively investing in her interests. He’s trying, like he said he would, and I can’t be mad about that.

Lights blind me through the window in our entry, and my heart catches in my chest as thoughts of another man flood my mind. Beckett.

Ava pauses mid-spin and almost loses her balance as she rushes toward the door, throwing it open without waiting to see who it is.

“Beckett!” she yells excitedly and takes off running toward his car, wrapping her arms around his legs as he steps out.

If that had been me, I would have stumbled with the speed at which Ava crashed into him, but Beckett stands tall, solidly locked in place, his eyes meeting mine as he rests a hand on her shoulder.